Poll: Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2022, Baku - Race 8

Rate the 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix out of ten

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utajoker said:
That in general or at this track also?
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In general, apart from the usual setups they try from track to track (like all the drivers cars are), Hamilton is the one having different parts fitted etc to his car, Russell seems to be on a "regular spec" car, so they can compare one over the other. Thats been happening for a long while now for them trying to figure out how to get what looks to be a fundamental mess of a car to work in some way. Even again this weekend Ham was talking about they tried some new part in practise I think and he said it only made things worse lol.
Im guessing but I bet Ham figured " Yea...sacrifice a few races and Ill get the better spec car out of the gate first over Russell", but, well, Merc isnt coming up with the goods for that to have worked out.
 
Mr Jack said:
His Baku results in F1 have been solid, and his F2 2017 Baku weekend was fire.
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I'm not doubting that but he did crash at Baku in 2019 when qualifying.

I've no axe to grind I like Charles and he is who I am supporting for the WDC this year (Though I'd also love it if Checo could get some more wins too) but from my perspective he seems to struggle on street circuits compared to regular circuits. Think he's even had a few lacklustre results at Albert Park too.

It's not a criticism, just an observation.
 
It's borne out the fact I've seen him struggle more at Monaco, Baku and Albert Park relative to everywhere else that he is strong. I am not saying he is rubbish at street circuits. I just believe he struggles with them more so than he does other circuits on the calendar.

You're welcome to disagree with my opinion as that is all it is.

edit: Thinking about it. Didn't he have an accident last year at Jeddah as well?
 
Locky said:
Or Toto is making excuses for Lewis?
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“That’s the feedback I get from the team while George is following a more conventional path. Lewis is trying to set out to solve the problem. That’s why I think people saying George has out qualified and outraced him in the last few races can’t see the bigger picture.” Ross Brawn

same making excuses as well ?
 
Whether they're excuses or not, it will only tell when Mercedes are fighting at the front again, when it matters, as they inevitably will be at some point. That won't be this season in terms of fighting for the driver's championship (which it's fair to say has gone now, barring one of the the greatest turnarounds in sporting history) but, as long as he sticks around, will surely come again.

If Russell has an edge on him then, then fair enough, they are just excuses for the most marketable driver on the grid, but I'm not going to write him off. There's history there. Let's not forget the likes of 2009 for example - Barrichello was outperforming Button comprehensively in the uncompetitive 2008 Honda, yet when the 2009 Brawn was launched and they found themselves immediately the fastest team on the grid, it was Button who gained the upper hand, while Barrichello was left floundering and on the back foot, getting ever more desperate in those early races. Hakkinen and Coulthard in 1998/9 too. Alonso and Raikkonen both able to rise to incredible levels in the Renault and McLaren (and Ferrari for Alonso) and even Massa, Irvine, Frentzen and Montoya (who were found wanting, yet nearly won titles a few years later). It's amazing what having a title capable car can do to different drivers.

I think the Hamilton of old might have started thinking of quitting (the one who went into sulks regularly, even half way through races when things didn't go his way) but that's not in his head yet. He won't be enjoying the challenge of the car at the moment, not even relishing it, but he's more resilient than the Hamilton of old, and only a fool would write him off.
 
I guess Max is a has been like Lewis now. Perez getting the better of him again :p


Leclerc is a qualifying monster.

Alpha Tauris looking as quick as the Merc here. Is that down to the Red Bull engine/straight line speed on the mega long straight i wonder?
 
I can see RB starting to have driver problem if Perez were to get by leclerc tomorrow and Max can only pick up 3rd.

Perez has been a good team player so far, but this might be his only realistic shot at being champion and why should he pull over when it is so close between him and his team mate.
 
I'd imagine Horner would prefer the constructors this year, than a driver championship. :D
The radio messages with Perez being ticked off about not having a tow, and Max questioning why he's going out first. The divide seems like it's there. Of course, it could just be liberty only playing specific messages to stoke the fires.
 
I_M_Weasel said:
I can see RB starting to have driver problem if Perez were to get by leclerc tomorrow and Max can only pick up 3rd.

Perez has been a good team player so far, but this might be his only realistic shot at being champion and why should he pull over when it is so close between him and his team mate.
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I don't think it's Perez's only realistic shot at being champion, Red Bull are likely to be fast next year too. Max has been flattered over the last few years with a car that uniquely suited him much more than his team mate. It's easy to forget that he was beaten by Ricciardo in 2016 and 2017.
 
Hate to say it guys but even without Merc in the mix F1 is still too formuliac ... imagine competitive McLarens, Alpines etc. in the mix, we would then have want we all want to see, the top half of the grid properly racing.
 
turbot1984 said:
Hate to say it guys but even without Merc in the mix F1 is still too formuliac ... imagine competitive McLarens, Alpines etc. in the mix, we would then have want we all want to see, the top half of the grid properly racing.
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Like we did last year? :D

Ok Ferrari and McLaren weren’t challenging for 1 and 2 but it seemed like the cars were closer. Right now if you’re not in a Ferrari or RB you’re 1-2 secs off the pace straight away.
 
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